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Honda VFR800F Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Honda VFR800F car check

Is the Honda VFR800F reliable? We analysed 5,992 real MOT tests across 741 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 5,992 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
89.1%
Typical Mileage
25,038mi
Annual Mileage
831mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
28yrs

The Honda VFR800F is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda VFR800F.

Honda VFR800F Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Honda VFR800F. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Honda VFR800F MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Honda VFR800F to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

88.4%
2003
89.7%
2002
87.3%
2001
89.7%
2000
87.2%
1999
88%
1998
81.3%
1997

Honda VFR800F Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Honda VFR800F fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 76
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 38
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised 29
Roller brake test indicates a binding brake 26
shock absorber seal failed and leaking oil 26
Stop lamp does not illuminate immediately a brake applies 23
Brake pad(s) (sintered type) less than 1.0mm thick 20
Steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the weight on the lower bearing 14

Honda VFR800F Common Faults & Problems

These are the most common serious faults found on Honda VFR800F models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.

Tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm 16

Honda VFR800F Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Honda VFR800F owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
253 mi/yr
Typical
831 mi/yr
Average
1,652 mi/yr
Heavy usage
2,125 mi/yr

Honda VFR800F MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda VFR800F year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 190 88.4% 11,624 23,633 47,802
2002 300 89.7% 10,988 18,742 32,019
2001 789 87.3% 13,849 25,062 38,216
2000 1,106 89.7% 14,737 24,176 33,932
1999 1,160 87.2% 15,110 22,910 33,844
1998 1,537 88.0% 17,996 29,199 41,145
1997 75 81.3% 18,806 27,458 31,857

How Long Does a Honda VFR800F Last?

Based on 741 Honda VFR800F vehicles on UK roads.

Average
15.6 years
Median
13.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
28 years

Honda VFR800F Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Honda VFR800F MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
25,038 mi
75th Percentile
36,832 mi
95th Percentile
59,063 mi
Max Recorded
210,116 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Honda VFR800F

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2000

89.7% MOT pass rate from 1,106 tests

Year to avoid
1997

81.3% MOT pass rate from 75 tests

The best year to buy a used Honda VFR800F is 2000, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.7% across 1,106 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 81.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Honda VFR800F Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Honda VFR800F THIS CAR 89.1% 5,992 25,038 mi 28 yrs
Honda Civic 73.7% 9,391,580 74,987 mi 34 yrs
Honda Jazz 81% 5,740,892 48,635 mi 24 yrs
Honda Cr-v 78.5% 4,177,643 80,499 mi 29 yrs
Yamaha Ybr 125 Custom 77.9% 10,604 8,811 mi 18 yrs

Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda VFR800F outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Honda VFR800F?

The Honda VFR800F has an overall MOT pass rate of 89.1% across 5,992 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Honda VFR800F are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (76 recorded failures), brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (38), and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised (29). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda VFR800F with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.

A typical Honda VFR800F owner drives around 831 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Honda VFR800F models stay on UK roads for around 28 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Honda VFR800F — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Honda VFR800F reliable?
Based on 5,992 MOT tests, the Honda VFR800F has a 89.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Honda VFR800F?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm, brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick, and steering movement excessively 'notchy' with the wheel raised. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Honda VFR800F do per year?
The typical Honda VFR800F does around 831 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Honda VFR800F last?
Most Honda VFR800F models stay on UK roads for around 28 years based on our analysis of 741 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Honda VFR800F?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Honda VFR800F?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Honda VFR800F is 2000 with a 89.7% pass rate across 1,106 tests.